BBPA disputes conclusions of IAS emergency services report

By Mathew Lyons

Published: 26 October, 2015

The British Beer and Pub Association has challenged the conclusions of the latest report from the Institute of Alcohol Studies.

The latest study from the IAS, released today, is titled Alcohol's impact on emergency services.

The report's headline findings include that 76% of police and that 50% of ambulance staff have been injured by alcohol-related violence, and that alcohol-related incidents takes up as much as half of the emergency services' time.

Katherine Brown, director of the IAS, said: "We call on the government to better support our emergency services and implement policies to ease this burden, such as minimum unit pricing for alcohol.

"Local authorities could also do more by using their licensing powers more proactively, such as trying to bring forward extremely late closing times where needed."

The report is based on a self-reporting survey of nearly 5,000 frontline personnel in the emergency services.

Some 80% of respondents came from the police. Less than 400 ambulance workers responded to the IAS's request.

Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of the BBPA, said: "We will be studying this report, but 24-hour drinking is very much a myth, as on average, pubs close less than half an hour later than they did under the previous Licensing Act.

"Local authorities have plenty of powers to restrict licensing hours and close down premises that do not behave responsibly.

"However, pubs provide a vital community function and we want to encourage drinking in a responsible environment like the pub.

"UK alcohol consumption is falling overall and is down 18 per cent since 2004.

"It is hugely important for the success of our high streets that there is a vibrant day and evening economy - and there is plenty of evidence that many towns and cities are achieving the right balance."

The IAS is largely funded by and is a subsidiary of the Alliance House Foundation.

The Alliance House Foundation is the current name of the UK Temperance Alliance, which was founded in 1853 to campaign for a complete ban on the sale of alcohol in the UK.

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